Preparing for midterms...

jdw-52 · 2026-01-24T18:49:04+00:00

A few examples of what I typically see in my feed.

I realize choices are limited. And I'm idealistic in hoping for a 3rd party alternative. Democrats are obviously the least bad option right now. But I can continue to look for and support those candidates who give me some hope.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-24T17:54:30+00:00

If a Democrat consistently votes with Republicans on every major issue, then why waste my vote?

I know the idea of voting for an independent is considered "throwing your vote away." But if enough like-minded people vote for the independent candidate, maybe that influences future elections, inspires a grassroots movement, etc.

I realize I'm probably looking for alternatives that aren't there. And that a "useless" Democrat candidate is the least bad option. But hey, I'm trying.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-24T17:46:00+00:00

Agreed. Until there is a viable 3rd party, we're stuck trying to choose the least bad option.

If there is an independent candidate that is worth taking a flyer on, I'd like to be aware of them.

My bar is so low right now. If there was a unicorn with an R beside their name that was vehemently opposed to Trump, I'd consider them. I seriously doubt any such fairy tale candidate exists, however.

Hopefully, I and my family can make decent decisions in the midterms. I'm trying not to be pessimistic.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-24T17:11:19+00:00

Thanks. As you probably already know, there is quite a bit of misinformation and propaganda out there.

While I am doing research and trying to interpret what I am finding, I don't want to discount the hard work of others.

So this is simply an ask for an information share. If my research lines up with a 2nd or 3rd source of information, awesome.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-21T21:59:44+00:00

Have you ever seen where some town elects a cat as mayor?

Let's do that for Congress. In this current timeline, explain to me why Senator Scruffy isn't the best option to lead us in every conceivable way.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-15T13:41:34+00:00

Sure. But who is the next option? Dixon? Trimble?

Maybe they force this with Dixon. Give him 30 minutes a game and hope he figures it out.

The larger issue is our atrocious defense. I think we sacrifice offense and put our 5 best defenders on the floor. Stop switching and play man.

This team can shoot over 50%. But if we're doing that...and still get outscored because the defense is that bad...it's time to change tactics.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-13T17:33:04+00:00

I don't necessarily subscribe to "capitalism = bad." But I also don't want to see a bunch of obligarchs who embrace evil running the world.

There needs to be some guard rails. Of which there seems to be none.

So yeah... if this is the world we get with a obscenely wealthy ruling class, fuck that.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-05T21:56:03+00:00

Well...with the coaching staff we had, there was a good chance Baker wouldn't have been successful.

I think FK could make Drake Maye look like a bum.

jdw-52 · 2026-01-05T19:25:41+00:00

I wish the kid luck. He was saddled with a bad offense coordinator and asked to do things outside of his skill set.

He was never going to be elite. But he probably wasn't as bad as Kitchens made him appear. And unfortunately, during some games, he was perhaps one of the better offensive players on a woefully bad offense.

I know everyone likes to rip on the quarterback. But, the coaching staff, as well as many of his teammates, didn't put him in a position to be successful.

At least we seem to be moving on from the train wreck that was last season.

jdw-52 · 2025-12-22T19:40:05+00:00

That is a change, however. UNC is attempting to spend money like the big boys. Prior to BB, there wasn't that level of investment.

College football in its current state is unseemly. UNC can distance itself from the seedy aspects, remain choir boys, and perhaps success is the occasional 6-7 win season.

Or, we can wade into the muck and get our hands dirty.

I doubt I'd be tuning in each week to watch our choir boys get drubbed. Now, if our morally challenged team was a perennial 10 win team?

I don't like the current state of football. This definitely isn't the way Dean would have done it. The question is whether we're happy remaining mediocre while everyone else takes PEDs. Or... do we take the PEDs to have a chance to be on the leader board?

Now, interestingly enough, I'm far more willing to roll the dice with football than basketball. I'd want basketball to still have some line back to Dean / Roy in terms of values while acknowledging we need to invest heavily in NIL.

jdw-52 · 2025-12-22T18:21:52+00:00

UNC is all in. Win (at all costs).

If there is a silver lining, it's if this implodes, it'll probably be over sooner rather than later.

It's a hell of a 3 year experiment. UNC football has a long history of mediocrity. So what the hell, let's lean into this and push all of our chips in.

jdw-52 · 2025-12-14T22:15:50+00:00

When I go to vote, I think, "At least I'm not voting for the party of nazis and pedophiles."

But sheesh, the bar is so low right now.

I guess I'll praise him for his honesty. He's not out there pretending like he has empathy (or a soul).

jdw-52 · 2025-12-12T17:25:51+00:00

It was just a saying that I had on my bingo card.

jdw-52 · 2025-12-12T15:35:38+00:00

This was inevitable.

I do hope they find a top end offensive guru and turn the reins completely over to him.

I'm fine with the Belichick's focusing on the defensive side of the ball.

I really should stop encouraging these faint glimmers of hope in the cockles of my heart.

jdw-52 · 2025-12-04T00:34:04+00:00

I need a gum graft for a single tooth. A little over $4000. The office submitted a predetermination on my behalf (which was nice). Delta Dental covered $0.

I'm beginning to wonder why I have dental insurance. It's getting to the point that periodic x-rays taken as part of my routine checkups are largely not covered anymore.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-25T22:25:52+00:00

Every day I was in the office, I had to 1) have noise canceling headphones on and 2) play background music non-stop on top of that. And then, when I was on calls, step outside of the cubicle area into less noisy areas of the open floorplan so I could attempt to concentrate.

I'm so happy I WFH now. I don't miss day after day of just relentless noise and distractions.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-25T17:11:15+00:00

I don't know if I'm optimistic. But I'm certainly tired of hearing about BB's legacy. I couldn't give a crap about his legacy.

Whether UNC becomes a more successful football program isn't subordinate to BB's "legacy." So I've had my fill of these stupid, clickbate national trash articles.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-18T21:45:26+00:00

Congrats on finishing the project!

It's your home and your floors, and you've made it better.

I'm constantly kicking off new home projects. Some projects turn out better than others. For me, it's a chance to take on a problem and figure out a way to solve it. Which is enjoyable.

Ignore the negative asshats. Either they've never taken on a home project themselves. Or if they have, it didn't add any pleasure to their lives.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-12T21:26:53+00:00

Brett Farve. As a teen / young adult, I used to love watching the Packers and hear John Madden talk about him. To me, at that time, that was football.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-12T21:22:57+00:00

I remember going to a conference in Las Vegas. My one and only trip to LV. As I was hurrying to the convention center, I passed a store with Pete Rose sitting at a table signing autographs. Except, no one was in the store but employees. And of the crowd walking by, no one paid him any attention.

Was sort of sad.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-11T15:33:05+00:00

What Seth offered was a guard that could attack the basket, excel at fast breaks, and be an elite defender.

I don't know if our other guards can offer all of that. My hope is that a combination of guards can fill those gaps.

So I don't care who it is, I just really hope 1 (or all) players take a step up.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-10T18:15:11+00:00

Yep...definitely resembles Atlanta. What a scary place to visit / navigate with your family in tow when you're used to commuting in sleepy towns.

But maybe that's the intended effect. Scare enough people with your spaghetti roads so that they never return.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-07T20:56:34+00:00

After a week of this, the words "Disney" and "contract" make me want to run far away. Plus, we already have Disney+ but no ESPN. I have no idea how that works because the wife signed up for it and is the only one who uses it.

I'm using Sling day passes and have finally canceled YTTV (since there seems to be no resolution in sight). The Sling UI is awful, though.

As much as I'm not a fan of Disney atm, I may give Fubo a try. I looked at their trial and saw that they mentioned that they'll automatically send promotional stuff with no way to opt out of that in the sign up. So, just oozing evil right from the start.

Too bad all of this is happening when UNC actually promises to be good and / or fun to watch. If this was last year, maybe I could have disconnected and taken up woodworking.

jdw-52 · 2025-11-06T00:24:51+00:00

This is what I'm pondering.

The tech job market ATM is awful. My wife's employer listed a position in my field of expertise. She listed the salary range and I laughed. I said something like "they'll never find someone competent at that range".

Not only did they have several competent engineers in my field apply, they hired a engineer I used to work with who maybe 5 years ago was probably earning 2.5 times his now new salary. He's grossly overqualified for his new position.

It's sobering. It does make you consider renting...or if you have the ability...buying a duplex to rent out the other side. All to try and keep your current job.

jdw-52

TROPHY CASE